Medicament vial stopper piercing and needle positioning device

ABSTRACT

A stopper for a medicament vial including a thin central zone thereof and a beveled sleeve is supported over the outer surface of the thin central zone of the stopper by means of three radially outwardly extending and arched legs anchored to the peripheral portions of the stopper at their outer ends. The sleeve is tapered toward the central area of the stopper and the end of the sleeve adjacent the stopper is beveled for piercing the thin central zone of the stopper. However, the legs support the sleeve with its beveled end at least closely adjacent the stopper and the arched legs are bendable whereby a thrust on the outer end of the sleeve will be sufficient to bend the legs and advance the beveled end of the sleeve toward the central area of the stopper for piercing the same. The sleeve includes an outer barb for retention through the thin central area of the stopper and a conventional aluminum seal is secured over the stopper and the adjacent end of the vial and also covers the stopper piercing sleeve and its bowed support legs.

ire States Patent [191 Larson 1 Mar. 25, 1975 MEDICAMENT VIAL STOPPERPIERCING AND NEEDLE POSITIONING DEVICE [75] Inventor: Roger R. Larson,Urbana, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Pharrnaco, Inc., Chanipaign, 111. [22] Filed: Aug. 6,1973 [21] Appl. No: 385,798

Primary [Examiner-Herbert F. Ross Almrney, Agent, or FirmClarence A.OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A stopper for a medicament vialincluding a thin central zone thereof and a beveled sleeve is supportedover the outer surface of the thin central zone of the stopper by meansof three radially outwardly extending and arched legs anchored to theperipheral portions of the stopper at their outer ends. The sleeve istapered toward the central area of the stopper and the end of the sleeveadjacent the stopper is beveled for piercing the thin central zone ofthe stopper. However, the legs support the sleeve with its beveled endat least closely adjacent the stopper and the arched legs are bendablewhereby a thrust on the outer end of the sleeve will be sufficient tobend the legs and advance the beveled end of the sleeve toward thecentral area of the stopper for piercing the same. The sleeve includesan outer barb for retention through the thin central area of the stopperand a conventional aluminum seal is secured over the stopper and theadjacent end of the vial and also covers the stopper piercing sleeve andits bowed support legs.

6 Claims, 8 Drawing lFigures MEDICAMENT VIAL STOPPER PIERCING AND NEEDLEPOSITIONING DEVICE This invention relates to an apparatus for securementover the stoppered end of a medicament vial and which will be capable ofpiercing the stopper of the vial and enabling an hypodermic needle pointto be thereafter inserted into the vial for withdrawing fluid therefromin a manner positively preventing coring of the stopper by thehypodermic needle.

The vial stopper piercing and needle positioning device of the instantinvention comprises an apparatus constructed of plastic so as to beshape retentive and yet bendable and resilient and the apparatus ispositioned over the ordinary rubber stopper of a common medicament vialof the type provided with a thin central area. The plastic deviceconsists of a tapered and beveled sleeve including three radiallyoutwardly equally spaced support arms and the outer ends of the supportarms are provided with barbed points for anchoring in the outerperipheral portions of the stopper. The arms or support legs are bowedso as to be more readily bendable and the central area of the device maybe urged by finger pressure toward the thin central area of the stopperto enable the sleeve to pierce the central area of the stopper. Thetapering sleeve may be pushed or depressed from within or under asterile covering of aluminum and the sleeve is flared toward its outerend so that a hypodermic needle will seat its point securely in thesleeve and thereby be exposed through the opening of the protrudingsleeve to the contents of the vial. In this manner, the hypodermicneedle may be admitted into the interior of the medicament vial withoutpenetrating a rubber plug and will thereby prevent a small core ofrubber from entering the lumen of the metal needle. If the central areaof the stopper pierced by the beveled sleeve cuts a small core from thecenter of the stopper pierced thereby, the introduction of thehypodermic needle into the sleeve behind the core will eject the coreharmlessly into the vial.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a rubber stopperpuncturing devicesthat prevents coring" or blocking of a hypodermicneedle that enters a common medicament vial.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a controlled entryand a controlled positioning means for a hypodermic needle point withina hermetically sealed medicament vial as opposed to the ordinary manualmethod of achieving entry and positioning which creates problems ofcontrol commonly known to those practiced in the art.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus whichwill define a hypodermic needle receiving sleeve precisely centeredrelative to an associated medicament vial stopper and ofa size to snuglyreceive a hypodermic needle therethrough after the sleeve has beenutilized to pierce the stopper of the medicament vial and to therebyallow the medicament vial to be supported in inverted position from theassociated hypodermic needle in order that the vial of the associatedsyringe may be held by the user and readily filled through theutilization of only one hand.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein isto provide a device in accordance with the preceding objects which willconform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple constructionand easy to use.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which: I

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper portion of aconventional medicament vial including the stopper piercing apparatus ofthe instant invention and with the stopper piercing apparatus covered bya conventional sterile covering of aluminum;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2-2 of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 2 butwith the central portion of the aluminum cover and the stopper piercingapparatus depressed inwardly so as to cause the sharpened and beveledinner end of the sleeve portion of the stopper piercing structure topierce the central area of the medicament vial stopper;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. v3 but with the aluminum cover removedand the hypodermic needle of a common syringe tightly received in thesleeve portion of the stopper piercing apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the medicament vial illustrated in FIG. 1with portions thereof being broken away and illustrated in horizontalsections;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which aninverted medicament vial provided with the stopper piercing apparatus ofthe instant invention may be readily supported from the needle of acommon syringe;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the vial stopper piercing and needlepositioning device of the instant invention; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the outer end of one ofthe support arms or legs of the stop per piercing structure.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10generally designates a common medicament vial including a diametricallyreduced neckvl2 having a conventional flanged stopper 14 secured thereinfor closing the neck 12 ofthe vial 10. The stopper 14 is provided with athin central area 16 and is commonly covered by an aluminum seal havinga cen tral area thereof which may be opened to provide access to thecentral area 16 of the stopper 14 by the needle of a hypodermic syringe.

Conventionally, the sharpened tip of a hypodermic needle is forcedthrough the central area 16 in order to draw liquids from the medicamentvial 10. However, in forcing a sharpened hypodermic needle through thecentral area 16, a portion of the central area 16 is often cored fromthe stopper 14 with the result that the core of rubber removed from thecentral area 16 is often lodged within the sharpened end of thehypodermic needle. If such a condition exists and the vial is invertedto withdraw fluids from the vial without first dislodging the coreremoved from the stopper 14 from the needle, the needle is drawn intothe syringe with the fluids being drawn into the syringethrough theneedle.

The vial stopper piercing and the needle positioning device of theinstant invention may best be seen in FIG. 7 and is generally designatedby the reference numeral 18. The device 18 includes a central axialsleeve 20 which is tapered and beveled as at 22. The outwardly flaringend of the sleeve includes three equally spaced and radially outwardlyprojecting integral spring support arms or legs 24 whose outer endsinclude angled foot portions 26 for closely overlying the flange 28 ofthe stopper 14. Each of the foot portions 26 has a barbed anchor 30struck downwardly therefrom and each of the anchors 30 is anchored in acorresponding portion of the flange 28 in order to support the device 18securely from the stopper 14 with the sleeve 20 in axial alignment withthe central area 16 of the stopper 14.

It will be noted that the sleeve 20 also includes a barb 32 strucktherefrom and, from FIG. 2 of the drawings, it may be seen that when thedevice 18 is supported from the stopper 14 the beveled tip of the sleeve20just barely contacts the central area 16 of the stopper 14.

The device 18 may be constructed of any suitable material such as aflexible and resilient plastic. After the device l8 is secured to thestopper 14, a conventional aluminum seal 34 is secured over the device18 and about the neck 12. Finally, a cap 36- of aluminum is secured overthe seal 34 and includes a removable central portion 38 which may bebent upwardly and away to expose the seal 34 preparatory to the centralportion of the seal 34 being torn away to expose the outer end of thesleeve 20. Thereafter, finger pressure as at 40 may be utilized todepress the central portion of the device 18 in the manner illustratedin FIG. 3 of the drawings whereby the sharpened and barbed sleeve 20will pierce the central area 16 of the stopper l4 and the barb 32 willretain the lower end of the sleeve 20 through the central area 16 in themanner illustrated in FIG. 4. Thereafter, the needle 42 of a hypodermicsyringe 44 may be tightly wedged downwardly into the sleeve 20 in orderto securely engage the needle 42 with the sleeve 20. Thereafter, thesyring 44 may be held in one hand and swung to an inverted position suchas that illustrated in FIG. 6 and the plunger (not shown) of the syringe44 may be retracted to draw liquid from the vial 10 into the syringe 44.

Because of the taper of the sleeve 20, the device 10 can be designed toaccept a standard needle gauge, using different deviccs to acceptdifferent gauges, or one tapered design can be used to accept all gaugesas long as the point ofthe needle 42 engages firmly within the sleeve20.

To enter the vial 10, the needle point of a common syringe is directedtoward the flared outer end of the sleeve 20. The sleeve 20 then guidesthe point of the syringe needle 42 into the sleeve 20 until the syringeneedle 42 is securely lodged in the sleeve 20 with a firm pressure fromthe operator. As soon as the syringe needle 42 is firmly lodged withinthe sleeve 20, it does not matter whether the syringe needle 42protrudes only slightly or considerably greater into the vial 10. Inthis manner, smaller gauge needles 42 may actually be forced through thesleeve 20 while larger gauge needles will only wedge in the sleeve 20and not project through the latter. By this type of operation, criticalmanufacturing tolerances are not required for the sleeve 20.

Of course, by first piercing the central area 16 of the stopper 14 withthe sleeve 20, the hypodermic needle 42 is not required to penetrate arubber plug and, therefore, a small cylinder or core of rubber cannot belodged in the beveled end of the needle 42 for subsequent movement intothe syringe 44 as liquids are withdrawn from the vial 10.

When the needle 42 is tightly received in the sleeve 20, the vial 10then becomes a steady and secure extension of the syringe. Accordingly,an' operator can, with only one hand on the syringe barrel, easily liftthe vial in an arc until it is upside down or almost upside down. He canthen freely use either hand or both hands to manipulate the syringe,without touching the vial, in order to fill the syringe while thesyringe needle is in a secure and ideal entering position to accept thecontents of the vial. The freedom of having both hands to operate thesyringe and having the proper and controlled penetration of the syringeneedle allows a much simplier and much more efficient filling ofasyringe than the method now commonly used, which requires one hand to dothe cumbersome work of two. Moreover, the simple and unique fillingmethod hereinbefore set forth does not require the needle to 'lay in thehand or to be touched by the hand as the present, commonly used methoddoes.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation'shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 4

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a vial having a stopper therein for closing thevial, said stopper including spaced outer peripheral portions and a thincentral portion a stopper piercing and needle gripping attachment forsaid stopper, said attachment comprising an axially short sleeveconstructed of shape retentive and yet resilient material, positioned onthe outer side of the central portion of said stopper with one end ofthe sleeve in end opposing relation relative to said central area ofsaid stopper, and support means supporting said sleeve from said stopperfor advancement toward and movement of said one end of said sleevethrough said central area, said one end of said sleeve being beveled andsharpened, said sleeve tapering, both internally and externally, towardsaid one end thereof, whereby said tapered sleeve receives a syringeneedle in the large diameter end of said sleeve, after the sleeve hasbeen inwardly displaced to pierce said central area, and said needle istightly gripped by said sleeve for total support of the sleeve and saidvial from the needle when the vial is disposed in an inverted positionwith the needle positioned therebelow.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said sleeve in eludes an outerbarb, outer barb centrally of the axial length of said sleeve andprojects away from the piercing end of said sleeve.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said support means comprisesflexible leg portions carried by said sleeve projecting outwardlytherefrom and anchored to said outer peripheral portions of saidstopper.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said legs are equally spaced aboutsaid sleeve and carried by the other end portion thereof.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said legs are longitudinallybowed.

6. The combination'ofclaim 5 wherein the outer ends.

of said legs include barbed anchors imbedded in said outer peripheralportions of said stopper.

1. In combination with a vial having a stopper therein for closing thevial, said stopper including spaced outer peripheral portions and a thincentral portion a stopper piercing and needle gripping attachment forsaid stopper, said attachment comprising an axially short sleeveconstructed of shape retentive and yet resilient material, positioned onthe outer side of the central portion of said stopper with one end ofthe sleeve in end opposing relation relative to said central area ofsaid stopper, and support means supporting said sleeve from said stopperfor advancement toward and movement of said one end of said sleevethrough said central area, said one end of said sleeve being beveled andsharpened, said sleeve tapering, both internally and externally, towardsaid one end thereof, whereby said tapered sleeve receives a syringeneedle in the large diameter end of said sleeve, after the sleeve hasbeen inwardly displaced to pierce said central area, and said needle istightly gripped by said sleeve for total support of the sleeve and saidvial from the needle when the vial is disposed in an inverted positionwith the needle positioned therebelow.
 2. The combination of claim 1wherein said sleeve includes an outer barb, outer barb centrally of theaxial length of said sleeve and projects away from the piercing end ofsaid sleeve.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said support meanscomprises flexible leg portions carried by said sleeve projectingoutwardly therefrom and anchored to said outer peripheral portions ofsaid stopper.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said legs areequally spaced about said sleeve and carried by the other end portionthereof.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said legs arelongitudinally bowed.
 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein the outerends of said legs include barbed anchors imbedded in said outerperipheral portions of said stopper.